Strengthen Your Walls

"Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control." Proverbs 25:28

My devotions this morning were on building up walls to protect ourselves from the attack of the enemy. First, Beth Moore (2003) talked about a fence that had fallen down between two properties due to tree roots, which seemed harmless when the trees were planted but had grown to the point of uprooting the soil and knocking down fences on both neighbors yards. One neighbor had exotic animals while the other raised miniature horses. Neither neighbor had noticed the fence coming down due to the acreage until one day, a property owner went out to see her favorite horse being torn apart by a hungry lion. To quote a paragraph from the study: "Tragically, we often don't realize part of our fence is down until Satan, the roaring lion, is devouring something precious to us right on our own property. Mind you, he has no right to be on our property, but all he needs for a written invitation is a weak spot in our fence" (Moore, 2003, p. 64).

Next, she recalled that God is a believer in walls, noting places in Scripture where God had placed walls or boundaries around his beloved things (like the Garden of Eden, the Old Testament tabernacle and the city of Jerusalem). We did an exercise where we drew a temple and then labeled it our bodies based on 1 Corinthians 6:19 (so cool that these Scriptures keep coming back as we seek God's direction!). Next, we looked at how the Holy Spirit is inside of us and that there is a wall that God has built with His seal of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13).

Finally, the above Scripture was referenced, and it stood out to me above all else in the lesson. For one, I must admit that I've read it dozens of times before (in fact, it's in one of my son's favorite books on being a godly boy) but I never really understood the analogy until today. Maybe I'm just thick-headed, but I didn't think about the seriousness of a broken-down wall to a city. City walls represented protection at the very least. All I keep picturing is a lion ripping to shreds something very loved like the little horse she described, and I want my walls to be fortified rather than broken down. Self-control is that important!

And I've been lacking it lately. Just like planting trees didn't seem like a big deal they day they went in, the tree roots continued to grow until they were a BIG problem (I can relate since we've gotten rid of two big trees since moving into this house and had to have some of our plumbing re-done because of the roots that had gotten into the pipes!). We sometimes think giving in here or there isn't a big deal, but we're tearing down the wall between us and the roaring lion when we don't practice self-control. Think of those fences and fortify your walls!

Dear Heavenly Father, first of all, we thank You that You have sealed us with Your Holy Spirit. Thank You that You are more powerful than any devouring lion. Lord, we don't want to do anything that opens the door to an attack or worse, lose something important to us. Please help us maintain the walls of safety and practice self-control. Help us! Remind us! Strengthen us! Motivate us! May we be ever focused and alert so we don't give into temptation. We love You and fear You alone. Thank You for protecting us and keeping us on the straight path. May our temples - our bodies where Your Holy Spirit dwells - be made pure, holy, healthy and thin for Your glory. In Jesus' name, AMEN!